“Russia has explained repeatedly it has one core concern — Ukraine being admitted into the NATO military alliance.”
Not any of Russia’s business.
This isn’t a good argument.
Putin has said, "Eastern Ukraine is Russia." In many ways he is right. The people in the eastern half of Ukraine speak Russian, not Ukrainian. And they identify with Russia, not Ukraine.
The Ukraine is most certainly, historically and strategically, of national interest to Russia and more their “business” than ours or NATO’s. Far more so than the Baltics.
It’s as much their business as it would be if China started trying to pull Canada or mexico into a security arrangement and station weapons there.
This is of ZERO concern to us, lets the Russians have it and maybe make the place better.
Ukraine gave up its immense nuclear missile capability with the promise at Budapest that its borders were inviolable.
Crimesa’s 2014 loss to Russia should never have happened. That was an Obamanation.